County commissioners approve committee assignments

"The nominating committee met and suggested our committees," said Chairman Mike Waggoner. He called for a voice vote, and approval was unanimous.

County Clerk Daphne Fagan gave each commissioner their certificate of election, the agenda for the next meeting (the regular monthly meeting on Sept. 22), and a copy of the revised budget. She reminded some commissioners they will have to read their conflict-of-interest statement before voting -- both in the commission meeting and also in committee meetings-- if what they are voting on is in any way related to their job, or the job of someone in their family. For instance, Commissioners Jennifer Smith and Danny Morgan will have to read their statement before any vote relating to schools, since they are employees of the school system.

The first committee to start work will be the budget committee, consisting of Tony Beyer, Anna Childress, Sheldon Davis, Morgan, and R.L. Williams. They will meet at 5 p.m. Monday to look at the resumes of those who applied for the budget director job. Four of the applicants met the minimum qualifications, said Assistant Budget Director Heidi McElhaney. One of those applied the first time around also, but when budget committee members checked references, none of them recommended hiring that person.

Talking with McElhaney after the meeting, budget committee members decided there was no point in interviewing that person again, since the people who gave the references would not have changed their opinion since mid-summer.

So the other three will be asked to come for interviews Wednesday, starting at 5 p.m. Then the budget committee will hold their regular meeting Thursday evening, and perhaps decide to offer the budget director job to one of the three.

Time is of the essence, since McElhaney will be going on maternity leave in late October.